West Ham have delayed their decision on whether to release striker Michail Antonio as the striker closes in on a return to action six months after breaking his leg in a horror car crash.
Antonio’s contract runs out in the summer and the 35-year-old is currently weighing up his options after rejecting a short-term deal on lower wages while he regains his fitness.
‘He’s looking at what offers he gets,’ a senior Hammers source recently told Mail Sport.
West Ham’s leading Premier League scorer has been included in Steve McClaren’s Jamaica squad for the Gold Cup that kicks off later this month.
The club announced on Monday that they will continue to support Antonio throughout his comeback, even though he will officially been listed as a ‘free transfer’.
‘Given Michail Antonio’s unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate,’ the statement read.
Michail Antonio has not played for West Ham since a car accident in December 2024
The French forward suffered a lower limb fracture which will keep him out for at least a year
Antonio will remain at the club but will be listed as a free agent with his contract set to expire
‘However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.
‘As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the club’s absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.’
Antonio, whose current deal at West Ham is believed to be around £90,000 a week, has not featured since crashing his Ferrari into a tree in December, an accident that left the striker with extensive injuries and lucky to be alive.
He posted an emotional video on social media this week charting his recovery that showed Antonio learning how to walk, run and kick a ball again.
The video begins with footage of the wreckage with an unknown voice asking: ‘how the f** did you get out of that?’.
Antonio has been working hard to return to fitness in recent months, flying out for warm-weather training in Dubai in February and Hammers boss Graham Potter recently confirmed the striker was back kicking balls again with the group.
‘’He’s training back with the team,’ said Potter in May.
‘Bit by bit, he’s getting stronger. Yes [he’s kicking balls again]. He’s getting there.
After Antonio’s Ferrari was crashed into a tree the Jamaican striker was lucky to be alive
Michail Antonio released footage on social media detailing his recover from surgery
‘He’s not back to 100 per cent, of course, but from where he was to where he is now, it’s incredible steps he’s taken.’
While Antonio is keen to return to on-field action, he is also expected to have a budding broadcast career waiting for him. Antonio made his TNT Sports debut as a pundit for the Conference League final and has also hosted the Footballer’s Football Podcast alongside Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.
Antonio also surprised club insiders when he chose to give his first interview after the crash to presenter Helen Skelton on BBC show Morning Live, a non-sport programme, raising suspicions it might be the first step on a potential future in daytime television.
Meanwhile, the club also confirmed that defender Kurt Zouma, currently on loan at Saudi side Al-Orobah, will leave at the end of the month alongside Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimír Coufal and Danny Ings.
‘However, as his current contract is also due to expire on June 30th, for the purposes of the Premier League retained list procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.’
Antonio joined West Ham in 2015 for a £7 million fee from Nottingham Forest.
He has made over 250 appearances for the club, scoring 68 goals.
Antonio suffered a lower limb fracture in the car accident and required surgery.
He was released from hospital at the end of December last year.
Meanwhile, West Ham confirmed that Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabiański, Vladimír Coufal and Danny Ings will all leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of this month.
Kurt Zouma, who is currently on loan at Al-Orobah FC in Saudi Arabia, will also leave West Ham at the end of June.
